Most people
with viral meningitis usually start getting better within 3 days of feeling
sick, and they recover within 2 weeks. With mild cases of viral meningitis, you may
only need home treatment, including drinking extra fluids and taking medicine
for pain and fever.

Bacterial or severe viral meningitis may require treatment in a hospital,
including:

Recommended Related to Children's Vaccines

Chickenpox (varicella), a viral illness characterized by a very itchy red rash, used to be one of the most common infectious diseases of childhood. But as a result of the wide use of vaccinations since the 1990s, it has become so uncommon that many doctors in practice now have never seen it.
Chickenpox is usually mild in children, but adults run the risk of serious complications, including bacterial pneumonia.
People who have had chickenpox almost always develop lifetime immunity (meaning you...

Medicines such as antibiotics, corticosteroids, and medicines to reduce fever.

Oxygen therapy, if you have trouble breathing. To learn more, see Other Treatment.

Supportive care. In the hospital, doctors watch the person
closely and provide care if needed. For example, you may need to drink extra liquids
or get fluids in a vein (IV). To learn more, see Other Treatment.

Follow-up care

Most healthy adults who have
recovered from meningitis don't need follow-up care.

But adults who have
other medical problems that make them more likely to have long-term complications or get meningitis again should see their doctors after
recovery.

Babies and children always need follow-up care
after recovery. They need to be checked for long-term complications such as
hearing loss.

In this article

This information is produced and provided by the National
Cancer
Institute (NCI). The information in this topic may have changed since it was written. For the most current information, contact the National
Cancer
Institute via the Internet web site at http://
cancer
.gov or call 1-800-4-CANCER.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated:
November 14, 2014

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.
Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this
information.